By Mary Hoar, President Emerita, Yonkers Historical Society, recipient of the 2004 Key to History and President Untermyer Performing Arts Council
Monday, March 14th
March 14, 1932: The Yonkers Herald, the independent Democratic paper owned by Frank Xavier, published its last issue. The paper would be merged with the Republican Yonkers Statesman and published as The Herald Statesman as an “independent organ.”
March 14, 1947: Caryl Avenue resident Joseph Deatcher performed what was considered a miracle in Glasgow, Scotland, at least by his mother, who hadn’t seen him since 1923. Previously arranged, Joseph called her long-distance; this was the first time his mom used a phone. The call was put into the local Police station, another first; the station had never received an overseas call. They had to pile up 6 large ledgers for mom to sit and speak on the phone.
Tuesday, March 15th
March 15, 1944: The Swedish diplomatic repatriation ship Gripsholm docked at Jersey City with more than 900 returning Americans, including two from Yonkers. Sister Romualda, former Superior of St. Casmir’s Convent, and John Wenzel had been interned in Germany and Nazi occupied France.
March 15, 1945: Former Yonkers resident Harry Stradling won the Oscar for Cinematography for “The Picture of Dorian Gray!” His wife, the former Ann Linsenbarth, daughter of Albert Linsenbarth who worked forty years for the Yonkers Herald and very active in Exempt Firemen’s organizations. YPD Second Precinct Sergeant Leslie Lisenbarth was her brother.
Wednesday, March 16th
March 16, 1930: The Westchester County Historical Society chose a ten-ton boulder, found near Central Avenue, to mark the site of the old Valentine homestead on Valentine Hill. An important part of American history, General George Washington camped his troops there several times, including the “Grand Reconnaissance” of Washington and Rochambeau July 1781. Home of the Valentine family from pre-revolutionary times, it now is the site of St. Joseph’s Seminary and College.
March 16, 1940: Samuel Untermyer passed away at his winter home The Willows in Palm Springs. His family brought Untermyer back to Yonkers for his funeral, held at his Greystone estate on North Broadway.
Thursday, March 17th
March 17, 1931: The Yonkers Chamber of Commerce went on record strongly opposing the proposed secession of the eastern portion of Yonkers to Bronxville.
March 17, 1937: Dr. John Dill, Yonkers Academy of Medicine Chairman of the Public Health Committee, announced more than sixty physicians volunteered to donate several hours weekly to treat pre-school children whose parents couldn’t afford medical care for their children.
Friday, March 18th
March 18, 1923: Princeton University announced Yonkers HS star athlete Charles Caldwell would be starting pitcher of its baseball team; he also played varsity football for the Tigers. The resident of Lawrence Street, one of Princeton’s greatest athletes, had won seven letters at Princeton, three for football, three for baseball and one for basketball. He played for semi-professional teams in Yonkers, often for the Kennedy All Stars and spent 1925 with the New York Yankees as a pitcher. He went on to coach football, basketball and baseball at Williams College; he later returned to Princeton as Head Coach of both the football and baseball teams.
March 18, 1942: The Herald Statesman brought comfort to another Yonkers home, the Durkin family of Arden Place. Their son William, US Army, was away fighting; the family had no idea where. While looking through the paper, they saw a large picture of a mass held on a convoy heading to Australia. Who did they spot at the service? Their son William!
Saturday, March 19th
March 19, 1890: St. Joseph’s Hospital officially opened on the feast of St. Joseph. Although a snowstorm slowed mail and transportation, a large number of people attended the opening. St. Mary’s pastor Rev. Charles Corley blessed the building, leading clergy on a candlelight procession while sprinkling holy water to consecrate the building. Father Corley then celebrated solemn high mass in the new chapel, with music supplied by the Mount St. Vincent choir. All guests continued celebrating with a delicious dinner, no doubt served by the good Sisters. St. Joseph’s Hospital was ready to serve the people of Yonkers!
March 19, 1928: Transatlantic flyer Ruth Elder visited Yonkers City Hall and Yonkers Mayor Thomas Larkin. Dubbed the “Miss America of Aviation,” she was the first woman to attempt flight across the Atlantic. Captain George Haldeman and Elder flew in the Stinson Detroiter called “American Girl;” after battling storms for several hours while experiencing engine trouble, they sighted the Dutch tanker Barendrecht and set down near the ship. Shortly after their rescue, the plane exploded. Booked at Loew’s Theater for three days to talk about the hazards of transatlantic flight, she was paid $1000 per day.
Sunday March 20th
March 20, 1942: Schools Superintendent William Ankenbrand’s insistence that all Board of Education actions be done according to the letter of law caused a bit of consternation for School Trustee Patrick Reilly. It was Reilly’s job to read the resolutions; unfortunately, there were several dozen janitorial transfers, resignations, and new appointments. He began reading just the names, but soon was interrupted by Dr. Ankenbrand. Apparently he had to read the salary for each man, so Reilly restarted the process, reading and reading… and reading! At the very end, Ankenbrand announced, “All these janitor appointments and transfers will save us the sum of $206.84 per year!”
March 20, 1945: Councilman Edith Welty, lobbying for permanent appointment of two Yonkers Policewomen, publicly praised the work of Helen O’Lear and Helen Murphy, the first policewomen in the history of Yonkers. Appointed during the war emergency, the women were able, according to Welty, to “see things that some patrolmen look at, but never see!”
Questions or comments? Email YonkersHistory1646@gmail.com.
For information on the Yonkers Historical Society, Sherwood House and upcoming events, please visit our website www.yonkershistoricalsociety.org, call 914-961-8940 or email yhsociety@aol.com.
